Top Ohio Republicans face down intraparty critics

2:04 AM,
Dec. 29, 2013

U.S. Rep. John Boehner, left, U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman, center, and Ohio gubernatorial candidate John Kasich come together at the end of a rally Nov. 1, 2010, in Cincinnati. Conservatives within their own party pose might challenges to the three Republican stars this November.

Written by

Julie Carr Smyth
and Dan Sewell

Conservative restlessness within the Republican Party poses challenges to three GOP stars in the battleground state, where House Speaker John Boehner, Sen. Rob Portman and Gov. John Kasich all have riled up the right.

Kasich upset some people by pushing for certain tax increases and embracing Medicaid expansion under President Barack Obama's federal health care overhaul; Boehner is clashing with conservative groups about the federal budget; and Portman faces backlash from social conservatives in regard to his about-face in favor of gay marriage.